Keyboard



Feb. 13, 1951 .1. M. LOBlT 2,541,823

KEYBOARD Filed March 5, 1946 flan M [vhf 21 55 Md, v

'HTTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1951 KEYBOARD I Jean M. Lobit, Rosebank, N. Y.

Application March 5, 1946, Serial No.v 652,054

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to keyboards for line casting machines.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a keyboard by which. the release of. matrices is assured even though the keys be but slightly displaced or subjected to only light pressure. With keyboards for line casting machines which are in general use'it-I scimetimes happens that a desired matrix is not released upon the actuation of a key, and occasionally matrices are not released in the order in which the keys are depressed because the operator has failed to apply suflicient pressure to each key. It is an object of the invention to overcome these failings and to eliminate operational mistakes which are caused by lapses of the operator which are due either to fatigue or lack of mastery of the operating characteristics of a particular machine. The keyboard of the present invention is so constructed and arranged that only a minimum of key action is required for assuring the release of each matriX. Such sensitiveness of the keyboard is attained as to eliminate errors in operation due to the idiosyncrasies of difierent operators so long as the keys are depressed in the order in which the matrices are desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein the principle of the invention and the best mode of embodying the same are disclosed.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 isan elevation through the assembling mechanism of a bank of keys comprising a portion of a keyboard;

Fi 2 is an elevation showing the connections between keys and matrix-releasing bars;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have illustrated a bank of keys comprising keys in the form of levers 10, H, l2, l3, l4 and i5. Each of these keys is'provided with a finger piece. 7 All of the keys are pivotally mounted upon a rod I6 which extends across the keyboard. The key levers are spaced by sleeves 9. Each of the keys has connection with a matrix-releasin rod. As shown in Fig. 2, rod IT is connected for actuation by key It and rod I8 is connected for actuation by key [5.

The devices by which a key lever is connected to an associated matrix-releasing rod includes a bar l9 which is pivoted on a fixed rod 20. All of the connecting bars for the remaining keys are likewise pivoted on rod 20 and it will sufiice to describe the connecting devices between one key lever and one matrix-releasing rod. In the normal and inactive positions of the keys the connecting bars are disposed as illustrated by connecting bar le between key l5 and rod l8, Fig. 2.

When a key is depressed the connecting bar is pivoted about its pivot rod 25 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 by connecting bar 19. Motion of the connecting bar 19 is derived from key lever M by means of a pin and slot connection between the key lever and the connecting bar. As shown inthe drawing, the pin 2! is carried by the key lever and the slot 22 is disposed in the connecting bar i9, but the disposition of the pin and slot can be interchanged. In their position of rest, Fig. l, the connecting bar I9 is supported by a stop bar 23 and the key lever is held in a substantially horizontal position. The'pivotal movement of each key from its position of rest is limited by pivot rod 26 which enga es the lower edge 25 of an aperture 26 in each key lever. The apertures in all of the key levers aresufficiently extensive to permit the key levers to return to their normal position of rest without interference from the pivot rod 20.

The rear end of each of the connectin bars has connection with its associated matrix-releasing rod. This connection may assume any of a variety of forms for transmitting the desired movement to the matrix-releasing rod.

As shown in Fig. l, matrix-releasing rod i'l extends upwardly and terminates just below the rear end of finger 21 of the matrix-releasing pawl 28. The matrix-releasing pawl is pivoted at 29 and is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a spring 30. Each pawl holds a matrix on the magazine fioor 3| by means of a lip 32. When the pawl is pivoted counterclockwise, Fig. 1, lip 32 is withdrawn below the surface of the magazine floor and the matrix is released. The pawl is pivoted each time its associated matriX-releasing rod is lifted.

The upper end of each rod is guided in a slot 33 in a bar 34 and all of the matrix-releasing rods are maintained within like slots by a strip 35.

In the keyboard illustrated in the drawing, the lower end of each rod I! is provided with a rounded projection 35 which is normally fitted within a similarly rounded recess 3'! in the upper edge of the connecting bar 59. This connection is in the nature of a ball and socket joint, but other suitable means permitting the lifting of a matrixreleasing rod may be used. The open side of the rounded recess is sufficient to permit articulation between the matrix-releasing rod and the connecting bar l9 while preventing endwise Withdrawal of the rod from the connecting bar. In order that each rod and connecting bar may be separated for enabling replacement of broken or used parts, it is desirable to be able to disconnect an associated rod and connecting bar without disturbing other parts of the assembling mechanism. The rounded projection 36 is retained within the rounded recess 31 by means of a pair of pivoted fingers 38 and 39, which are pivotally mounted upon a pin 40 at the lower end of a matrix-releasing rod. When the rod and the connecting bar are associated, the two fingers 38 and 39 flank the sides of the projection 36 and of the rear end of the connecting bar. When it is desired to disconnect the rod and connecting bar, one of the fingers may be raised as illustrated in Fig. 2 so as to permit the lateral movement of the rod with respect to the connecting bar and the accompanying withdrawal of projection 36 from engagement with recess 31.

In order to simplify the description of my invention I have illustrated and described a type of keyboard wherein all of the keys are pivotally mounted upon a single pivot rod. It is tobe understood, however, that the invention is applicable to keyboards wherein two or more pivot rods are used to support the keys of any one bank. A keyboard of this type is illustrated in United States Patent 1,977,829. When two pivot rods are employed for supporting two groups of keys of each bank, the spacing of the connecting barbearing rod 20 from the pivot of the key levers, the length of the connecting bars, and the location of the connecting pin are properly adjusted to provide the desired lifting travel of the matrixreleasing rods.

What is claimed is:

In an assembling mechanism for a line casting machine of the class wherein a substantially vertically disposed matrix-releasing rod is movable from a position of rest to release a matrix, the combination of a two-part key consisting of a manipulative lever of the first class and a lever operable as a lever of the third class for lifting said matrix-releasing rod from its position of rest, said levers having portions overlapping each other with side surfaces contacting in sliding relationship, said levers being maintained in connected relationship by a pin extending through a hole in one of said levers and through a slot in the other of said levers, said pin being headed at opposite ends to engage the outside surfaces of said levers to hold said levers assembled with leasing rod for effecting upward movement of said rod from its position of rest when said key is manipulated, and for effecting restoration of said key by the descent of said rod to its position of rest when manipulative effort on said key is relieved. v

JEAN M. LOBIT.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 450,324 Yost Apr. 14, 1891 889,552 Scharf June 2, 1908 966,228 Muehleisen Aug. 2, 1910 974,335 Alexander Nov. 1, 1910 1,615,540 Going Jan. 25, 1927 1,977,829 Lobit Oct. 23, 1934 2,055,463

Block Sept. 29, 1936 

